Israeli-Palestinian Drama ‘The Other Son’ Wins Tokyo Film Fest

Lorraine Levy’s Palestinian/Israeli drama, “The Other Son,” won the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix, the top award at the 25th Tokyo International Film Festival, on Sunday night. Levy also took home the best director honors at the festival, which marks the final go-round for festival chairman, Tom Yoda.

The special jury prize went to Kang Yi-kwan's "Juvenile Offender." Seo Young-joo, who stars in the film, was awarded the best actor prize. The best actress award went to Neslihan Atagul for "Araf — Somewhere in Between.” Tetsuaki Matsui's "Flashback Memories 3D," about a Japanese didgeridoo player who loses his memory, took home the audience award. The Toyota Earth Grand Prix for the best nature-themed fiction or documentary was given to Valerie Berteau's "Himself He Cooks.”

“All the films were excellent,” said Roger Corman, president of the international competition jury. “They each demonstrate the glory and power of cinema to entertain, inform, and teach us.”

For the first time this year, TIFFCOM, the market arm of the festival took place in Odaiba, a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. At TIFFCOM, there were 227 exhibiting companies from 25 countries and regions, up from last year’s 20 countries, with 111 of those entities were new exhibitors.

At the close of the festival, Yoda reflected back on his five years as chairman.

“It is the fifth year since the introduction of the Green Carpet and the Toyota Earth Grand Prix. It is also the 25th memorable year for us. On such as special year, I am very happy to have had the world respected Roger Corman leading the member of the jury,” he said.